Part 20

PMDSXX

The sun was setting in the evening sky, but they still had enough daylight to make a quick trip out to Della's favorite spot out near the lake. You needed a car to get there. The family had gathered in the living room to listen to the news broadcast on the radio.

"Mom, Dad. It's getting late, and I have to go to Perry's parents' house tonight. They are having dinner and invited us to come over." Della said while looking over at Perry.

"We don't want to keep you dear. We're so happy for you and Perry. Let your father and I know when you have decided on your official date." Her mother hugged her tightly.

"I will mom." Della pulled away from her mother and hugged her father giving him a quick kiss on his cheek while he touched her arm gently and looked over at Perry, who was waiting on Della to join him.

"It was nice meeting all of you," Perry told them as he opened the front door for Della. She stepped out of the house as he escorted her to the car with his arm behind her guiding her to the car. Her parents watched from the doorway while her brother stood on the stoop of the stairs and waved at his sister as Perry pulled the car out of the driveway and onto the highway.

"Perry, keep going straight ahead. I want to show you a place I always loved growing up, and I still cherish it to this day."

"Where is it, Della?" he looked over at her curiously, but she never revealed her secret.

"Not far, just keep driving. I'll let you know when to turn."

Marcus and Evelyn Street went back into their home while their son followed, sat down on the sofa, and propped up on of his feet on the coffee table. His mother came in from the kitchen with a cup of tea and handed it to her husband looking at her son with disappointment.

"Joe, you know better having your foot rest on the coffee table." She told him giving him a narrowing eye then her son put his foot down.

"I can't believe Della is going to be marrying Perry instead of Michael." Joe stated unenthusiastically.

"Honey, your sister is very happy with Perry. What more can you ask for? I mean she told you what happened between her and Michael. You don't want to see her unhappy, now do you? If she stayed with Michael that's what would have happened, and I don't think you'd want that for her." His mother confirmed and sipped her tea as she listened to the radio.

"I guess not mom. I just hope she's not making a mistake with Perry. I saw how happy he makes her." He told her, got up from the sofa went into his room, and shut the door.

"Dear what are your thoughts about Della and Perry?" Marcus spoke up finally leaning back into his chair and looked over at his wife.

"Honey, I'm so proud of her and you should be too. With what she went through with Michael, Perry Mason wanting to marry our daughter is a breath of fresh air. I couldn't be happier for her and Perry. I know he comes from a wealthy family, but it was his choice he wants to marry her. She's in love with him which I'm sure you could see." Evelyn said and finished her tea.

"I am so proud of Della. I just don't want to see her hurt that's all. I know she can take care of herself. I can't protect her all her life, but I'll always be there for our daughter." Marcus took her hand in his and grasped it tenderly knowing he felt the same way.

Perry steered the car in a sharp turn following the road. Della touched his forearm to alert him that they were approaching their destination.

"Perry, take the next right. You'll see it's beautiful."

"I bet it is beautiful but not as beautiful as you, Della." He gave her hand a quick squeeze and maneuvered the car on the road to the lake. Driving up the two-lane road, the lake started to appear in their view surrounded by a couple of docks for visitors. The place was remote but also maintained by groundskeepers throughout the busy season. Della's mind was elsewhere as she reminisced about her family outings. She smiled when she caught Perry staring at her as he parked the car and turned it off. He looked at the view of the lake then back at her when she reached for her door handle and exited, not waiting on him to get her door. Stretching her arms above her head as he watched her, Perry got out of the car, shut his door, and walked to the front of his car to join her. They both reveled at the site and the vast openness with peaceful sounds. Della started to walk away from him taking in the scenery and took notice that they had recently updated the buildings and added a few more docks since she last visited. Perry's thoughts started to get the best of him thinking of Della's childhood and strode up quickly to catch her as he took her by the waist and walked with her. He paused abruptly. When she looked down at what he was doing, she noticed he picked up a few flat stones along the way clutching them in his hand.

Approaching the dock together, Perry handed Della a few flat stones while he fingered the two, which he had still in his palm.

"You want to test your skills at skipping stones?" He winked at her before launching his first stone, not waiting on her to answer him, and she gave him a sly grin. Tossing his first stone out onto the lake, it skipped twice before sinking into the water's depths. He leaned back slightly turning to see his competitor. With a flick of her wrist, she cast her flat stone out, and it skipped four times before it sank to the bottom.

"Perry, I beat you. Care to try me again?" She teased him raising her eyebrow at him then giggled at him and gained her composure for a moment.

"Of course, Della." He handled his stone in his hand concentrating on his technique as she stepped away to give him space to throw it. He threw it just as far as he did the first time. Casting the second stone out into the lake, the stone flew just as far as his first stone but bounced five times then dropped into the water.

"Well, Della it looks like you got to get six skips to beat my score." Perry leaned into her space when she stepped back from his intrusion to throw her stone out into the lake. Skipping the stone as she tossed, the stone skimmed six times of the rippling of the water, beating his record of five. With his face in awe, Perry was shocked although a competitor he never liked to lose. Della stepped away from him while he looked out into the lake then back at her who had a smug grin on her face, closing her arms over her chest in triumph.

"Perry, I didn't tell you that I had a good throwing arm, did I?"

"No, you didn't, and I'd hate to see you angry with me."

The sun had set when Perry looked over at his watch noticing it had gotten rather late than he'd expected. It was almost seven, and they had to be back at his parents for dinner. Time got away from them both as they slowly walked back towards his car that was parked under a large oak tree. Della took his hand in hers before entering the car when she settled back against the tree pulling him towards her. He stepped into her space and gave her a slow, passionate kiss before giving her breath, licked her lips and slipped her arms around his neck playing with his shirt collar then his nape.

"Della, it's getting late." He kissed her on the neck before disengaging from her arms.

"Your right. As much as I'd love to stay here, I'm starting to get hungry," Della's hands slid down his arms and he opened the car door for her and then got in starting his car and headed to his parent's house.